5th/6th Spain 1-3 USA
7th/8th South Africa 4-0 Ireland
USA improved their chances of qualifying for the Olympic Games as they fought off hosts Spain 3-1 in the Hockey World League Semi-Finals in Valencia, earning them fifth place while the Spaniards ended sixth. In the 7th/8th classification match, South Africa rediscovered their scoring touch to defeat a shattered Irish team. In a high octane battle for fifth spot, spurred on by the local crowd, Spain were the first to make inroads and were rewarded for their endeavour just before the quarter-time hooter. Bea Perez was the one to provide the spectacular finish, volleying home first time after a Xantal Gine ball to the head of the D bounced off a USA defender and also off Roccio Ybarra.
The lead was short-lived, though, as the USA got back on terms just a couple of minutes into the second quarter. Their corners – something they struggled with earlier in the tournament – had helped pave the way against Ireland a day earlier and they again found a sweet move.
Lauren Crandall gave the pace and Katie Reinprecht dove full length to redirect the ball out of reach of Maria Lopez de Eguilaz. The goalkeeper was busy soon after to keep the USA out while the immaculate Gigi Oliva also made some key interventions before Rachel Dawson’s low push clipped the outside of the post. It kept the gap at the minimum going into half-time and Spain were inches from an equaliser when Alicia Magaz, Ybarra and Berta Bonastre played pinball in front of Alesha Widdall but the ball somehow stayed out.
USA, though, were starting to find the baseline with increasing frequency as time wore on and it was via this route Kat Sharkey broke through. Her powerful run looked set to be followed by a pull-back but she spotted a near post gap and flicked home for 2-1.
Again, Spain replied. Corners came and went with Lola Riera denied by Widdall before USA killed off the game with five minutes left. Melissa Gonzalez’s cross got a touch from Michelle Vittese toward goal where Maria Lopez could do little to stop the ball bouncing into the goal.
Both Gonzalez and captain Crandall spoke of the importance of "containing" Spain in this must-win game. "It was our last game, in front of a big home crowd, and we knew Spain would be quick and skilful – today was about collective tackling," said Gonzalez.
Crandall added that the USA must take a "duality" to the Pan-American Games. "We know we can play attacking hockey, we must also know when to contain the opposition," she said.
In the earlier match South Africa defeated Ireland to take seventh place. "It all clicked for us today, we were all singing from the same sheet," said South Africa's Shelley Russell. Goals from Candace Manuel, Lisa Marie Deetlefs and a screamer from Lillian du Plessis knocked the fight out of Ireland, before Kelly Madsen applied the coup de grace shortly before the final whistle. This was revenge for the 4-1 defeat South Africa suffered at the hands of the same opposition, earlier in the competition. A shattered Megan Frazer spoke after the game of the learning curve her team had experienced. "We made a good start to the tournament, but to be honest, we ran out of steam. The result against China in the quarter-finals rocked us and we finished with only two substitutes fit or able to play." For Russell, the frustration was clear to see. South Africa played with a determination and intensity that had been missing from their earlier games. Her bigger frustration however, lies with the uncertainty about South Africa's participation in Rio 2016. "We do not get the support that we need to compete at this level, but the point is, despite the disadvantages we have to battle against, we do compete with the top ranked teams." Russell also spoke of the three hour meeting the team had held to discuss what had gone wrong in their earlier games. "We were honest and everyone stood up and was accountable. That worked, today we played as a team."
